Five days and counting. At 7.45 p.m. on Saturday in the King Badouin Stadium, Brussels, the modern 50,000 all-seater ground that sprouted from the withered, bankrupt ruin of the old Heysel Stadium, the globe's third-biggest sporting tournament kicks off.
Sixteen nations, eight venues across two countries, 31 games in 22 days. And one winner. Only the Olympics and the World Cup are larger than the European Championships now.
Saturday night's kick-off between Belgium and Sweden should offer a promising start. For one it will be historic. The first major sporting competition of the new millennium, it is also the first time the tournament has been co-hosted. That decision was viewed as a controversial one when it was made in 1995 but, given the geography of the Low Countries - both Holland and Belgium are too small too stage the competition on their own and are close enough in distance and culture to share - it will only be seen as a mistake if there is some kind of bureaucratic breakdown or if the anticipated hooliganism does not receive a co-ordinated response.
That is the lowest of expectations and if the concern is solely off-pitch then the blazers can concentrate on getting matters right on the field. For the event to succeed they will need consistent refereeing, adventurous rather than cautious coaching, honest rather than mischievous players.
The threat of defeat and early elimination often scuppers the action in the group phase of finals tournaments and even when the quarter-final knock-out stage is reached, increasingly games are settled in extra-time or penalty shoot-outs. At Euro 96 two quarter-finals - England v Spain, France v Holland - and both semi-finals - England v Germany and France v the Czech Republic - went to penalties, while the final between Germany and the Czechs went to extra-time before Oliver Bierhoff won it for Germany with the first "golden goal" of a major final.
Four years on from Gareth Southgate's missed penalty, hostilities between England and Germany are renewed in Charleroi, a setting that was called "explosive" by a number of British MEPs who visited there three weeks ago. They tried to get the match switched. UEFA said no.
After Istanbul and Copenhagen, the shadow of hooliganism cannot be avoided when thinking of the tournament. In English terms it has even distorted the usual irrational assessment of England's chances. The unrealistic optimism has been missing. Even in England bookmakers have them at 11-1. Staring at Kevin Keegan's squad has been an exercise in spot-the-creativity.
Paul Ince, Dennis Wise and the reborn Nick Barmby have their individual qualities, but none would argue that they are midfield playmakers of international class. Steve McManaman's emergence at Real Madrid has been timely for Keegan. Long on inspiration but short on tactical awareness, Keegan's left side problem may have been solved by McManaman. The player himself, however, will want, and needs, not to be stuck in a narrow groove.
Up front it is a case of Alan Shearer and one other. The championship sees the end of Shearer's eight-year international reign at the age of 29. He will wish to exit in style and after having his best seasons in the company of Chris Sutton, Les Ferdinand and Duncan Ferguson, Shearer prefers the company and shelter the robust Emile Heskey offers.
Whoever accompanies Shearer - and in Eindhoven it would be fitting if it is Kevin Phillips - David Beckham's crossing had better be accurate. It could be England's most telling weapon. It was the only one in the friendly against Brazil.
Strangely, England versus Germany may not be the group's pivotal clash. In Romania and Portugal, Group A has a strong quartet. The latter duo come from the same qualifying group, Romania as winners after drawing at home with the Portuguese and beating them away.
Romania also have the memory of their 2-1 World Cup win over England in Toulouse, courtesy of Dan Petrescu's last-minute winner. Plus, Gheorghe Hagi is still around.
Romania face Germany in Liege next Monday and there should be an immediate indication as to the state of the Germans. Old and uninspired is how the holders have been portrayed.
We shall see, but there is little doubt that France and Holland have more talented and younger squads. The two dominate the betting, understandably. Both are in Group D and meet in Amsterdam a fortnight on Wednesday.
The world champions suffered a nervous qualification, winning 1-0 in Andorra thanks to a Frank Lebouef penalty and only narrowly pipped Ukraine by beating Iceland 3-2 in the last match in Paris. But from Fabien Barthez in goal, through Marcel Desailly and Lilian Thuram in defence, Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane in midfield, to Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka in attack, the French stink of quality.
In Sander Westerveld, Jaap Stam, Edgar Davids and Dennis Bergkamp, the Dutch have similarly gifted individuals. Yet they have had some strange results. A 5-5 draw with Belgium and a home defeat by Morocco have raised questions about Frank Rijkaard's suitability for the job. He is, after all, only 37 and this is his first coaching job. A poor start against the Czechs may render home advantage obsolete.
The Czechs were the surprise package last time, Karel Poborsky earning himself a transfer to Manchester United on the back of skilful performances and stunning goals - see the lob against Portugal at Villa Park. Poborsky is now 28 and with Benfica. The Czechs now tend to rely more on Pavel Nedved of Lazio. They won every qualifying game and finished 12 points ahead of Scotland.
Who will be the Karel Poborsky of Euro 2000 is just one of the many intriguing questions to be asked and answered over the three weeks. Zlatko Zahovic of Slovenia is a name to consider. We will also find out if Spain at last add up to more than the sum total of their individuals. And will Dino Zoff pick Francesco Totti? Is Henrik Larsson fit? Are Belgium rubbish? Can England and Turkey inhabit the same land peacefully?
Particularly if the answer to the last question is yes, then it is time to sit back and wallow. It's Euro 2000 time. Enjoy. France will.
